A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of aerobic training for patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Author(s): N. Kulkarni, A. A. Mahajan & S. M. Khatri - Pages: 42–50

Abstract

Adjuvant therapy for patients with breast cancer may cause favourable changes in physical function and quality of life (QOL). The most common complications of breast cancer are fatigue and a reduced capacity for exercise. This study evaluated the relative merits of aerobic training as an intervention to minimize these effects. The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of aerobic training plus conventional physiotherapy in postoperative patients with breast cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. A randomized controlled trial was conducted between 2010 and 2012. Sixty participants with a clinical diagnosis of stage I or II breast cancer were assigned to either aerobic training plus conventional physiotherapy (n = 30) or conventional physiotherapy alone (n = 30) for a period of 6 weeks. The outcome measures used were the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the 6-min walk test, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment questionnaire. Statistical analysis showed that aerobic training plus conventional physiotherapy was superior to conventional physiotherapy alone in reducing fatigue, and improving exercise capacity, VO2max and QOL. No adverse events were reported during the course of the study. The intervention was initiated on the same day that the participants began receiving radiotherapy, and therefore, it was possible to achieve a high level of participant adherence to the programme. Aerobic training plus conventional physiotherapy had beneficial effects on fatigue, exercise capacity, VO2max and QOL in participants with breast cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy.

Keywords: aerobic training, breast cancer, maximal oxygen consumption, quality of life, radiotherapy.